Kingsbarns – Balcomie (70cl, 46%)

Balcomie is a sherried single malt from Kingsbarns, a Lowland distillery, made with locally grown Fife barley. It is bottled at 46% in a 70cl bottle. The whisky was matured only in American oak butts that previously held Oloroso sherry, an unusual choice, since sherry is more often held in European oak. The sherry adds richer, spicy notes, balanced by sweeter, tropical notes from the oak. On the nose it is fruity and sweet, with treacle, sultanas and fruit loaf. The palate brings tinned pineapple, orange peel and cake spices, and the finish has dried apricot and roasted hazelnut.